Sunday, June 18, 2017

Healthy obesity is an illusion

Metabolic syndrome is one of the most important concepts for promoting your physical health. High blood pressure, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and visceral fat are called as "the death quartet," meaning significant risk factors for sudden death.

However, there are many people who are obese but not having unhealthy symptoms or abnormality. Are they need to lose the body weight?

The answer according to the clinical evidence is "yes." So far, some data have suggested that obesity is an independent factor of premature death.

And now, a result of a longitudinal study with a large sample size was published. The outcome shows that obese people have 50% higher risk of heart failure. Thus, there is no "healthy obesity."

However, only 50% increase of the risk is not so impressive. There are many other risk factors other than obesity. And genetic characteristics are also highly likely to influence the risk. It is unsure you should reduce the weight with accepting serious suffer.

In Japan, there is no word meaning "healthy obesity." Recently, "Pocchari" is used to suggest fat but pretty girls. But it does not include any meaning of health. Japanese are relatively difficult to become obese, perhaps due to genetic issues and diet style. Therefore, obese Japanese are seldom deemed as healthy.